July 5, 1775

United Colonies was nervous. His Congress had just approved the Olive Branch Petition, his last attempt at trying to avoid war with his father to avoid an actual rebellion. It was where his Congress emphasized his loyalty and affection to and for his father, where he reassured his father that he would never want to leave him, where he asked for mercy, where he asked for forgiveness, where he reassured his father that their bond would be forever strong and never be undone, not now or ever.

It was United Colonies' explanation of his feelings towards his father that would clear up any misgivings between them. It explained that they were British citizens and deserved their rights, but also that they were British citizens and would stay loyal to their king and their father country.

It had to be enough to end things, to put things to rest, and to allow them to work toward some sort of solution that would make them both happy.

"Are we sure this is going to work?" the voice he knew to be Virginia asked.

"Of course it will!" the voice that called herself Georgia said.

"It might not after what I did at Breed's Hill," the voice that called himself Massachusetts said. United Colonies scowled, remembering the story that had been explained to him, the story of what really happened at Breed's Hill.

"You shouldn't have done that, Massachusetts. I might be having disagreements with my family, but I don't want to hurt any of them, or leave them, or do anything like that. You...we should've just stayed with Congress. We stay here, we stay away from conflict, and then when my father comes, we could say that we were trying for peace with Congress. You ensured we get punished and that my father will never believe me when I say I love him and want to be his colony." United Colonies explained. In the safety of his private room at the inn, he could talk to his colonies freely.

It was strange and unnatural, and United Colonies still wasn't sure he wasn't going insane, but it helped him clear his thoughts and headaches, helped him find solutions.

So he did it anyway.

"I'm sorry," the voice that called himself Massachusettes said, "but I don't regret it. You fought at Lexington and Concord. I know you're scared, but you've fought as well. You believe that Grandfather has gone too far as well. Maybe I did go too far by hurting England, but we can't pretend none of us have been quick to violence recently."

"We're going to be punished no matter what. That's why we asked for mercy in our petition." the voice that called himself Delaware said, sounding somber and forlorn.

"We would deserve it. We have fought, and Massy did hurt Uncle England. We haven't lived by the promises we made in our petition. If Grandfather punishes us, we deserve it," the voice that called herself Maryland said.

"None of you deserve to be punished for standing up for your rights as British citizens. None of you deserve to be hurt for wanting the best for your people. That is your duty and your job, and you are doing your best to do that," an unnamed voice said, his voice resolute and determined. United Colonies looked down at his hands, trying to find a way to look away from the voice.

It didn't work.

The voice was wrong. United Colonies deserved to be punished for what he had done. Running away had delayed the punishment, but once this was over and done with, he planned to return home to accept his punishment. He had been mean to his father and cruel to his uncle, and while he was mad at them both, that didn't mean he had the right to do much of what he had done.

"I don't want to be punished, and I don't think we deserve it, but Grandfather will never accept any apology from us until we are punished," the voice that called herself New Hampshire said.

"We deserve it!" United Colonies snapped, somewhat harshly, before sitting down at the desk in his room, wiping away tears appearing in the corner of his eyes. He felt...he felt terrible. His emotions were all over the place, wild, chaotic, and United Colonies felt like a horrible person.

"I'm sorry, Father. We don't have to talk about it anymore." the voice that called herself New Hampshire said. United Colonies nodded, and for the first time since his colonies revealed themselves, his head was quiet.

———————————

October 1775

United Colonies was excited, scared, but mainly excited. He had received a response from his father, a proclamation from the king. Perhaps it was something that could end the conflict, something that would lead to a resolution.

United Colonies wanted it to be a resolution so badly so he could go home and stop feeling sick with guilt all the time. He couldn't wait to read what his king had to say. He knew it wasn't a direct letter from his father, but United Colonies had not sent a letter to his father with the Olive Branch Petition, so he was not expecting one.

But his father worked closely with their king, and the United Colonies knew he must have seen, read, and approved this proclamation.

It was the closest he would get to actual contact with his father until United Colonies got his fear under control and could write letters without his hands shaking and his breath getting shorter.

It was so stupid that it prevented him from talking to his father. It was cowardly.

So, for now, news of his father and his father's reactions to things came from the responses of his king and government.

So, instead of going home and talking to his father, United Colonies was sitting in Congress, waiting for John Hancock to read out the King's proclamation. John Hancock cleared his throat and began reading out.

United Colonies' hope quickly faded to horror and fear.

He listened in horror as John Hancock read out the proclamation, a proclamation declaring that they were in open rebellion and that the Congress was made up of dangerous men. His stomach dropped as the congressional president read the portion of the proclamation where his father gave his military permission to put down the rebellion.

"My god, he's declared war." the unfamiliar male voice said.

"This is because of what I did at Breed's Hill!" Massachusetts cried out, panicking, "I must have ruined our attempt at peace because I injured England! He thinks you did it, and he won't let any sort of compromise happen now!"

"He's going to kill us," The voice that called herself North Carolina said, her voice quiet.

"He's going to capture us and kill everyone in Congress! We are loyal to him. We love him. We didn't want to fight him. We wanted to stay, wanted to be a part of his empire! Why did he do this? Did they even read our petition?" Virginia exclaimed, her voice sounding tearful.

"He'll never go for peace now, no matter what we do," United Colonies said, his voice shaky as John Hancock finished reading the proclamation.

"What do you mean?" Thomas McKean, a Delaware delegate, asked.

"I know my father. He is...stubborn, and when he decides not to compromise, only a great act of force will make him compromise. He won't accept any sort of peace compromise from us. He'll only accept his army crushing any rebellion and hanging anyone he can pass off as a leader. We...we can't make a bid for peace or a compromise, not anymore." United Colonies explained, fear flooding his body.

He felt physically ill, hands shaking, body distant. His breaths came out in short bursts as his awareness seemed to fade, and a headache began growing.

United Colonies let out another shaky breath before awareness faded from him entirely.

James straightened his back, letting his breaths even out. United Colonies' panic would do no one good here. United Colonies needed to appear strong and offer his people some sort of control, but his fear of Britain and his retribution wouldn't let him do that.

"I don't know what we can or should do from here. I can't tell you that," James began, trying to keep his voice confident, "but...B—Father has just ensured that the only way this can be solved is through violence. I don't know how this will end, but it won't end peacefully."

A tense silence fell across Congress, and James clenched his fists.

United Colonies may be hesitant and scared to do anything to fight his father, but James wasn't. If it was a fight Britain wanted, it's a fight he'll get.